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4. Since your difeafe you thus declare,
We grieve that you in pickle are ;
You must to fculapius go,

For Phoebus will be much your foe;
That curing God will mend your ail,
We cure the bead, and be the T
Or if he will not mind your letter,
There's Mercury can do it better.
However, friend, one caution heed,
Rhime evener, if you hope to fpeed;

For we were shock'd to fee the lines, dear brother,
Speak pfalm at one end, and the p-x at t'other.

Q. Why is the north wind colder than the fouth?

A. Because we are north of the fun, and confe-i quently the north wind proceeds from regions at a greater diftance from the fun.

Q. Is there any necessary trade which providence has placed a man in, that juftly renders fuch perfon ridiculous ? Is it not both unchriftian and ungenerous, to ridicule a man for no other reason, than only his being fome neceffary trade? But a taylor being as neceffary a calling as any other bandicraft, how can the ingenious Apollo acquit himself of the forementioned charge, for calling (with the vulgar) a taylor, the ninth part of a man, &c. when for ought he knows, he may be both a good man, and a good chriftian too?

A. 'Tis ftrange you fhould charge a reflection upon our invention, which was made before our grandfather's days; what we faid on it, was only from what occafion it firft became a jeft. If after we were free with one, who attack'd us in the name of a taylor, we expect to be excufed, in taking the fame liberty with others as they take with us.

Q. What is the caufe of having a pimple upon the tongue; And from whence did that faying come, That one bath told a lye. And in anfwering it foon, you will oblige your frind, E. W?

4. A pimple upon the tongue generally proceeds from fharpaefs or heat of the blood, ftomach, or the like And as lying is the common and unpardonable

crime of that member, fo is it morally obvious to
impute any of its misfortunes to its offences.
Q. You wits that are so great,

Which makes your papers take,
I pray, refolve me one question,
About a friend of mine,
Who in former time
Did make great refolution.
To his love be kind,

Rare temper'd, fweet mind,

And all that could please a fair creature ;
But that lafted fhort,

For be's grown very smart,

And abuses whene'er he comes near her.
Therefore, Apollo,

For my brains are shallow.

Refolve me, I pray, what to do;
How I may rule

This unmannerly fool,

And I shall ever be obliged to you?
4. By all means, prithee write,
And a fatyr indite,

Since there's reafon fufficient to blame him:
Let it point blank appear,

As thy numbers are here.

And 'tis twenty to one but thou'lt fhame him. Q. I am a widow (and in business): Two perfons at this time court me for a wife; One of which is a Tradefman and in business, clear of the world, and loves me I think in heart.

my

The other is a Gentleman, at present out of business, an boneft character, but little or no eftate. This man I can love in my heart better than the other. I being a widow, and bearing of your great fame in refolving these questions, most bumbly request your advice, which of these perfons to make choice of; they are both honest men, and I am refolved to change my condition?

4. From the foregoing account, two motives appear on the Tradefman's behalf: First, His prefent profperity; and fecondly, His real affection towards

you

you. Likewife, there are two more on the Gentleman's behalf: First, His good character; and secondly, Your hearty affection towards him. Now the question is, whether or not the tter hath any real kindness for you, or whether his addreffes be not founded upon interest; if fo, we advise you to discharge him, and cleave to the thriving and amorous Tradesman But if the Gentleman's pretenfions be fincere, and your affection meets with fuitable returns, let him by all means be the fubject of your choice, fince 'tis love, and not riches, that is capable of procuring the greatest happiness.

Q. M. St. Evremont in his works tells us, That the different aims of the kings of Rome, were prejudicial to the growth of the Roman flate. Your opinion of the cafe?

A. With deference to fo great a man, we are hum bly of opinion, that we may revert his fentiments of. the matter, and not improbably conclude, that of fecond causes there was none fo vifibly fubfervient to the enlargement of the Roman ftate, than those different aims and defigns he speaks of. Romulus (the founder of Rome) was one of the greatest heroes of the age but his warlike temper fpurred him on to fuch hafty enterprizes, as were not far from proving the deftruction of his new built city. In evidence of which, we appeal to his famous conteft with the Sabines, which oblig'd him to fubmit to very fevere conditions. For his own fecurity put him under the neceffity of admitting the Sabines as fellow-in babitants with his own fubjects, and Tatius their King, as partner in the government. And as though all this were too inconfiderable a difgrace, the Romans receiv'd the name of Quirites (a name very familiar to the orators of fucceeding ages) from Cures, the metropolis of the Sabines. And tho' Romulus enacted fome good laws, yet he left the Romans but little better than a rude, unciviliz'd, undisciplin'd mob. And therefore the prudent choice of Numa Pompilius, who was fonin-law to the foremention'd Tatius, was the fortunate eccafion, that a fucceffor of the fame enterprizing ge

nius with a martial Romulus, did not grafp at the territories of others to the forfeiture of his own. For Numa, who was a man not of arms, but study, and endued with all the accomplishments of a peaceful prince, reclaim'd the falvage difpofition of his fubjects, refined their unpolish'd temper, inftituted religion, that principal basis of all government, and reduced the Romans to fo excellent a conftitution, as to leave them a robuft, tho' yet an infant ftate. But had another Numa fucceeded this, a tedious fucceffion of unactive peace might have too much foften'd their unexercis'd difpofition, might have unbent their martial temper, and effeminated their minds with luxuriant eafe. But this was happily prevented when another Romulus arose, when Tullus Hoftilius was feated on the throne. For as he could not but obferve, that his people were now ftrengthen'd and confirm'd at home, and therefore better prepar'd for acquifitions abroad; fo he refolv'd to tain them up afresh in the fchool of Mars, and improve both their difcipline and courage by engaging in a war with a neighbour ftate. And then he foon taught the inhabitants of Alba, by an intire deftruction of their city, that war and peace in an alternate, in a due fucceffion, may wonderfully advance a tendergovernment. Tullus left the Romans to his fucceffor Ancus Martius, in a very flourishing condition, and able to make new additions to their envied conquests. But Ancus, as though he were confcious what advantages had accrued from the fore-mentioned alternations of war and peace, endeavoured to tranfcribe the practice of the pacifick Numa, and not fuffer peace to mifs its turn. But when his neighbours, fuppofing him a coward, invaded his territories, he repaid the vifit in an unwelcome manner, and made them deplore the rafhness of their attempt. But tho' he encreased the glory of the Raman arms, and obtain'd the character of a great warriour; yet we may not unreasonably fuppofe, that his defire of a peaceful reign might fo far reftrain the fallies of a martial flame, as happily to become the cause, that he never made excursions beyond his strength, ne

ver ventur'd further than either prudence or neceffity would juftify his conduct. Now Rome was more than ever a terror to her neighbours, and able to bear another warriour on the throne. And therefore Tarquinius Prifcus rival'd his, predeceffor, and conquer'd twelve different forts of people within the boundaries of Tuscany. Whence by the way we may obferve, what petty conquests the Roman were in those early days, though furprizing in proportion to the times and other circumftances. Rome by this time had made fo confiderable a figure among her jealous neighbours, that she wanted a king, who fhould be both of a martial genius to maintain her conquests, to chastise revolters; and withal, of a peaceful temper, to make regulations in the ftate, to fettle her affairs at home, and not only make her equal to the acquifitions fhe was already miftrefs of, but prepare her alfo for future, for greater ones. And that Servius Tullus was such an one as this, was the very king the wanted; he gave fufficient demonftration, by both his foreign and domeftick enterprizes. Such was his fuccefs in war, that he merited the glory of a threefold triumph: fuch was the model of his government at home, that no number of triumphs could equal his applaufe. For not. withstanding the battles which he fought, he fo admirably fettled the civil conftitution, as to pave the way for Tarquinius Superbus to exert his active, his afpiring genius, not only in defenfive, but offenfive wars.

But to confirm the premiffes, we wou'd remind you, that the feverities the Romans afterwards underwent from Porfenna king of Clufium, from Brennus king of the Gauls, from Pyrrhus king of Epirus, and from the Carthaginians, abundantly demonftrate, that they ow'd not only their fecurity, but their glory, to a cautious as well as a brave procedure; and that had not fome of their kings been a kind of Cunctatores Fabii, they might have feen their enemies, not only as their pofterity did Hannibal at their gates, but within their walls. And in further evidence of this, we may infance in the brave, but rath Athenians, who were fuch fpeedy, fuch

hafty

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